Thank Dog Bootcamp
It’s time for jumping jacks as Jill Bowers leads a boot camp for people and their dogs at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank. At Thank Dog Bootcamp, the dogs get not only exercise, but behavior training as well. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Amy Hinkley and her dog Delilah go for a run during the boot camp at the Burbank park. “You’re not only doing it for you, you’re also doing it for your dog,” says Jamie Bowers, co-founder of the program. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Zorianna Kit of Hollywood exercises alongside her dog Butler at Johnny Carson Park, where the bootcamp-style workout began well before dawn. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Melodie Johnson of North Hollywood does pushups with her dog Misccka at her side. The workout gets everything done in one hour, says Jamie Bowers, the boot camp’s co-founder. “Everyone’s busy and people don’t want to work all day and come home and train their dogs.” (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A dog watches its owner work out with weights at the Burbank boot camp. Among other things, dogs may practice following the “stay” command while their owners do some weight training. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Jill Bowers, left, leads a weight-training workout at the Burbank park, while the dogs sit a spell. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A canine boot camper watches the humans exercise at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Participants cool down with their dogs after an early morning exercise class at the park. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)